Char Dham Yatra :
Panch Badrinath Yatra
There are four other smaller badri temples besides
the main temple of Badrinath . These are collectively called
the panch badris or five badris.
Yogadhyan Badri (1920 m.)
Closest to the main temple of Badrinath lies this tiny,
sleepy hamlet which remains unnoticed by most pilgrims and
is the winter home for the idol at Badrinath. Pandukeshwar
is also an important archaeological site. Some years ago,
four ancient metal foils engraved with a description of
several kings in the region were discovered here. Believed
to be over 1500 years old, these foils are kept at Joshimath,
30 km downstream. According to local myth, Pandavas, the
heroes in the epic Mahabharata, handed over their kingdom
Hastinapur to a king named Parikshit and retired here. Pandu,
the father of the Pandavas is believed to have meditated
here and was blessed by Vishnu for his penance. The place
'Yogadyana' derives its name from this incident, where yoga
translates to union and dhyan means meditation.
Bhavishya Badri (2,744 m.)
The bhavishya or future badri is situated at Subain near
Tapovan, about 17 km east of Joshimath. According to Hindu
belief, when evil is on the rise in this world, the two
mountains Nara and Narayan at Badrinath will close up on
each other and destroy the route to the present Badrinath.
This would also mark the end of the present world and the
beginning of a new one. Lord Badrinath will then appear
at the Bhavishya Badri temple and be worshipped here instead
of at the present one.
Bridha Badri
Bridha Badri or the 'old Badri' is the third temple
about 7 kms short of Joshimath, on the main Rishikesh-Badrinath
motor road at Animath. It is believed that Badrinath
was worshipped here before its enshrinement by Shankaracharya
at the main Badrinath seat. The temple of Bridha Badri
is open throughout the year. |
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Adi Badri
Adi Badri is the farthest from the other four badris. It
is approachable from Karnaprayag by a motorable road enroute
Ranikhet. The temple complex has 16 small temples with intricate
carvings.
Seven of these temples belong to the late Gupta period.
Local tradition assigns these buildings to Shankaracharya.
The main temple is distinguished by a pyramid shaped raised
platform, with a black stone idol of Vishnu.
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